Ethanol concentrations in antemortem blood samples under controlled conditions.
OBJECTIVE
The change of antemortem blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in inadequately processed samples was examined.


METHODS
The study was performed on nine healthy, sober volunteers after overnight fasting. Blood samples were divided into groups and stored, with or without NaF, for varying time periods (12, 24 and 48 h) and at different temperatures (4 degrees C and 20 degrees C). BAC analysis was performed by the gas-chromatography method.


RESULTS
All groups showed very low values of BAC.


CONCLUSIONS
Surprisingly, this study showed no ethanol production in improperly processed antemortem blood samples in healthy and sober individuals who were subjected to overnight fasting.
Petković
Stojan
S
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 5-7, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. pstojan@eunet.yu
Savić
Slobodan
S
Zgonjanin
Dragana
D
Samojlik
Isidora
I
D000328:Adult; D003933:Diagnosis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013696:Temperature
D000431:Ethanol